Texas rep. warns Dems it’s time to ‘get aggressive’

Texas Democratic lawmaker Jasmine Crockett has firmly expressed the need for political aggression to contest the ongoing battle over redistricting in Texas. Speaking at a recent progressive event in Phoenix hosted by MoveOn, Crockett weighed in on the predicament faced by her colleagues after a mass exodus from Texas. This pivotal action aimed at obstructing a Republican-backed congressional map that could alter the electoral landscape significantly ahead of the November 2026 midterms.

Texas democrats

In a show of defiance against what many see as an unjust reconfiguration of congressional districts, more than 51 Texas Democrats made the strategic decision to flee to Chicago. This bold maneuver was orchestrated to prevent the legislature from reaching the two-thirds majority needed to vote on the contentious redistricting plan, which experts warn could potentially grant Republicans a tactical advantage that might secure them five additional seats in Congress. Crockett, who recently attended the Tribeca Festival in New York, noted the significance of her colleagues’ departure, asserting that they “decided to get the hell out of Texas.” Her remarks highlight the growing frustration within the Democratic ranks as they grapple with what they perceive as gerrymandering and voter suppression tactics from their Republican counterparts. “They decided to use whatever tools they could, and breaking quorum is where they are at right now,” she added, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Electoral map

At the center of the redistricting storm is the looming threat of severe consequences for those who oppose the new electoral map. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been vocal about his discontent, expressing it through a pointed letter in which he stated, “Real Texans do not run from a fight. But that’s exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did.” Abbott’s assertion reflects a broader Republican strategy, one aimed at painting the Democratic flight as a dereliction of duties. In a separate tweet, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton added fuel to the fire, suggesting that the fleeing Democrats should be “found, arrested and brought back” to the state capitol.

Jasmine Crockett

Crockett argues that the situation demands more than passive resistance. “I do want to be aggressive, because we’re going to have to be aggressive because some of the things that have been broken, such as some of our trade agreements, they may not come back,” she said. “I’m aggressive. … So for me, I don’t serve in the Senate, but I would get rid of the filibuster if it means that we can for voting rights because we don’t get rights to [reproduction]. We don’t get rights to healthcare. We don’t get rights to education. We don’t get any other rights if we don’t have the ability to access the ballot box.” Despite the political turmoil, there remains a sense of hope among Texas Democrats. Many, including Crockett, express admiration for their colleagues’ fortitude. “I was so inspired by Texas Democrats,” she said, highlighting that their actions were not taken lightly, but with “absolute moral clarity.” Representative Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, echoed this sentiment in a statement conveying the necessity of their walkout as a resistive measure against what they see as a “rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent.”

Texas house

The Texas House faces gridlock, as the redistricting bill and other legislative items will remain stalled until Democrats return to the state. Should the standoff continue, Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton’s threats of civil penalties and arrests loom large in the minds of the absent lawmakers. As tensions mount, the developments in Texas echo a broader national struggle regarding voter rights and electoral manipulation, challenges that many states will soon face. With the U.S. Supreme Court currently reviewing a controversial redistricting dispute in Louisiana and recent decisions affecting South Carolina’s congressional maps, the conversation about voting access and fair representation has never been more urgent.

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